On a Slippery Slope Read Free

stops, glancing to her left and right “— he always seemed a little stiff. I understand why he didn’t get the job.”
    â€œWhy did they fire the guy before him?”
    â€œOh, he was almost as bad as Chloe’ s dad — no real personality.”
    â€œWell, my dad has got plenty of that!” I say with a nervous chuckle, hoping that he has enough to satisfy the station.
    â€œOkay, off you go then!” Mrs. Locke smiles and sweeps her hands towards the door.
    â€œWait!” I yelp. “Please tell me that Chloe and Ivy aren’t in my class?”
    Mrs. Locke closes her eyes and shakes her head. “I wish I had better news.”
    â€œWhat about Gabby? Is she in Ms. Winters’s class, too?”
    â€œGabby Brooks? You mean A.J.’s sister?” she asks.
    Just when I manage to get that boy off my mind, he has to pop right back in there. I can’t believe that I’m actually going to find out today, once and for all. I’ll finally know if that sweet, handsome boy with those adorable, brown, puppy-dog eyes is my next-door neighbour …

    â€œHannah?” Mrs. Locke waves her hand in front of my face. “Are you still with me?” she asks, laughing. “Do you mean Gabby Brooks?”
    â€œ Um … yes,” I say, snapping back to reality. “So is Gabby in my class, too?”
    I know if she says yes, and Gabby is in my class, I might actually survive this year, but if she says no , then I’m toast.
    Mrs. Locke shakes her head and I know before she even opens her mouth … I’m somebody’s breakfast.
    * * *
    M y classroom is on the third floor, at the top of the stairs. I knock on the door and step inside.
    Ms. Winters looks up from taking attendance. “Oh, hi. You must be Hannah,” she says, warmly.
    I nod.
    â€œClass, please say hello to our new student, Hannah Smart. She’s just moved here from Vermont.”
    â€œHello …” a few people mutter.
    â€œYou can take a seat over there by the window,” Ms. Winters says, pointing to an empty desk.
    I scan the room and see that Chloe and Ivy are sitting on the other side, about as far away from me as you can possibly get, thank god . Even so, I can feel them staring death rays into my skin. I don’t dare look at them because I know full well that’s exactly what they want me to do. I want to yell, “Seriously, grow up! I’m not going to look at you!” But then I’d probably look at them and that would defeat the purpose.
    â€œHannah, you can pick up your textbooks at the back of the room.” Ms. Winters points to a shelf. “Chloe, could you help her collect them?”
    â€œSure, Ms. Winters. I’d be happy to.” Chloe grins sweetly.
    As Chloe finishes collecting my books, she flashes me a big, friendly ( FAKE ) smile, and then winks, which I suspect is meant to scare me or something.
    How do people get to be so evil? Are they born this way?
    I walk slowly to the back, passing right by Ivy, who actually hisses at me. Can you believe it? She sounds just like a cat or a snake or maybe a teenage hissing zombie. It’s so weird that I can’t help but laugh, which turns out to be a big mistake because as soon as she hears me, she jets out her leg, catching me right in the shins. My hands automatically fly out in front of me, an automatic reaction to protect my head from hitting the hard tile floor, which is coming toward me at lightning speed. My hands hit first with a burning smack ! I instantly pop back up and yell, “I’m okay!” to anyone who cares. No one does. They’re all too busy laughing.

    â€œOh, Hannah, are you okay?” Ms. Winters cries from the front of the class.
    â€œYup, I’m fine,” I say over the sounds of giggling. Of course, I’m everyone’s focus again, for the second time today. I expect that Chloe must be laughing her head off, but when I look